The request was submitted by the Oil City Main Street Program and the Oil City Arts Council.

First held in August 2018, BridgeFest was deemed a success by Kay Woods, a volunteer with the Oil City Arts Council.

Two days worth of activities were held on the two main bridges in the City – Center Street Bridge and Veterans Memorial Bridge – with music, art activities, children’s activities, vendors and more.

The same two bridges will be used for the 2019 festivities, although in 2019 Center Street Bridge will be the one closed Friday and Veterans Memorial Bridge will be closed Saturday. In 2018, Veterans Memorial Bridge was closed Friday causing some traffic issues, something the Council expressed concerns of prior to approving the 2018 event.

But Wood said after talking to vendors and musicians, the Main Street Program was able to switch the days which the bridge would be closed for the 2019 festival.

The 2019 BridgeFest will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday, August 16, and Saturday, August 17.

Center Street Bridge will be closed August 16 and tentative plans call for a DJ, food vendors and children’s activities. The bridge will close at 2:00 p.m. for setup.

The Veterans Memorial Bridge will be closed August 17 with tentative plans calling for food and beer/wine vendors set up in the center of the bridge, two live bands – one on each end of the bridge – various vendors and other activities. The bridge will be closed at 1:00 p.m. for setup.

“While the Veterans Bridge event will be primarily organized by the Oil City Arts Council and the Center Street Bridge event will be primarily organized by the Oil City Main Street Program, both groups plan to collaborate and hold periodic, joint meetings to ensure smooth coordination,” a letter from Woods and Oil City Main Street Manager Kathy Bailey to the Oil City Council, said.